GREENBUILDING
Improved Energy Efficiency for
Non-Residential Buildings
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The GreenBuilding Programme
In its Green Paper on Energy Efficiency, the European Commission (EC) identified the building sector as an area, where important improvements in energy efficiency can be realised. According to the Green Paper, the building sector accounts for more than 40% of the final energy demand in Europe. At the same time, improved heating and cooling of buildings constitutes one of the largest potentials for energy savings. Such savings would also improve the energy supply security and the EU’s competitiveness, while creating jobs and raising the quality of life in buildings.
The GreenBuilding Programme (GBP) is a voluntary programme that started in 2005. It is meant to the enhance the realisation of cost-effective energy efficiency potentials by creating awareness and providing information support and public recognition to companies whose top management is ready to show actual commitment to adopt energy efficient measures in non-residential buildings.
These are the important requirements for a participation:
- an Energy Audit
- an Action Plan
- the Execution of the Action Plan
- the commitment to report the energy consumption on a regular basis
The GBP is managed by the European Commission DG JRC, that sets the rules and the structure of the programme and is responsible for the final acceptance of GB Partners and GB Endorsers.
GBP provides documents (“Modules”) defining the technical nature of an appropriate commitment for each energy service covered in the programme. The modules are complemented by Guidelines on horizontal issues, such as “Financing”, “Energy Audit” and “Energy Management”.
The GBP encourages its Partners to tap a large reservoir of profitable investments without the need for specific incentives from the Commission. GBP investments use proven technology, products and services for which efficiency has been demonstrated.
Being a GreenBuilding Partner gives a company the chance of presenting its actions for its organization’s and the world’s sustainable future to the broad public. The company will be an important multiplier to encourage other organization to follow suit.
The benefits are
- Recognition and approval of the action for enhancing the energy efficiency of the building stock by the European Commission
- Competitive advantage as organization being certified for its responsibility in the field of energy efficiency
- Presentation and communication of the organization and the Good-Practice-Example within the public relations of the GB Programme
The GBP will be complementary to the Building Energy Performance Directive as it will stimulate additional savings in the non-residential building sector.